Until this book was originally published in 1996 there had been little detailed research concerning the geographic location of the poor in America. The book examines the spatial distribution of the poor within the US and discusses the general characteristics of the poverty population. It explores the complex web of theory pertaining to poverty, presenting different categories: no fault theories, individual responsibility theories, societal responsibility theories, governemntal and institutional responsibility theories, and responsibility of the economic system theories. Information on poverty from the 1980s and 90s in the US is provided, as well as historical background. The problems and complexities associated with defining and measuring poverty are also discussed.

Poverty is not uniformly distributed throughout Ireland. Some areas clearly experience much higher levels of poverty than others, whether urban public housing estates or peripheral rural areas. However, the spatial dimensions of poverty are, at best, only partially understood. This book brings together disparate sources of information on the geography of poverty and initiates a debate from which can emerge more effective policy responses. It should be of interest to students of geography and the social sciences, and should appeal to policy-makers and practitioners concerned with spatial responses to poverty, such as those involved in urban, rural and community interventions.

Applied Geography offers an invaluable introduction to useful research in physical, environmental and human geography and provides a new focus and reference point for investigating and understanding problem-orientated research. Forty-nine leading experts in the field introduce and explore research which crosses the traditional boundary between physical and human geography. A wide range of key issues and contemporary debates are within the books main sections, which cover: natural and environmental hazards environmental change and management challenges of the human environment techniques of spatial analysis Applied geography is the application of geographic knowledge and skills to identify the nature and causes of social, economic and environmental problems and inform policies which lead to their resolution.

Americans think of suburbs as prosperous areas that are relatively free from poverty and unemployment. Yet, today more poor people live in the suburbs than in cities themselves. In Places in Need, social policy expert Scott W. Allard tracks how the number of poor people living in suburbs has more than doubled over the last 25 years, with little attention from either academics or policymakers. Rising suburban poverty has not coincided with a decrease in urban poverty, meaning that solutions for reducing poverty must work in both cities and suburbs. Allard notes that because the suburban social safety net is less-developed than the urban safety net, a better understanding of suburban communities is critical for understanding and alleviating poverty in metropolitan areas. Using census data, administrative data from safety net programs, and interviews with nonprofit leaders in the Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas, Allard shows that poor suburban households resemble their urban counterparts in terms of labor force participation, family structure, and educational attainment. In the last few decades, suburbs have seen increases in single-parent households, decreases in the number of college graduates, and higher unemployment rates. As a result, suburban demand for safety net assistance has increased. Concerning is evidence suburban social service providers—which serve clients spread out over large geographical areas, and often lack the political and philanthropic support that urban nonprofit organizations can command—do not have sufficient resources to meet the demand. To strengthen local safety nets, Allard argues for expanding funding and eligibility to federal programs such as SNAP and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which have proven effective in urban and suburban communities alike. He also proposes to increase the capabilities of community-based service providers through a mix of new funding and capacity-building efforts. Places in Need demonstrates why researchers, policymakers, and nonprofit leaders should focus more on the shared fate of poor urban and suburban communities. This account of suburban vulnerability amidst persistent urban poverty provides a valuable foundation for developing more effective antipoverty strategies.